remember – Page 2 – Old Testament Survey

Psalm 58

How angry do you get over sin in the world? Your sin? Are you praying for God to bring justice to those in the world acting like God but working evil (remember, this will include you)?

Psalm 58

The term in the superscription, “Altaschith,” means “Do not destroy.” It occurs in Psalms 57-59 and 75 (see our study of Psalm 57, 58, 59, and 75). Although the meaning is not clear, some have conjectured that it was a tune of a popular song. Isaiah 65.8 seems to reference it. It is of interest that David uses this term when he is confronted with the possibility of killing King Saul in 1 Samuel 26.9 (see our study of 1 Samuel 26). However, the setting of the psalm is best placed in the time of Absalom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 15-18), hence the placement in our studies.

This psalm expresses in detail what Jesus prayed in Matthew 6.9-13. Early Christian tradition has the psalm describing the treatment the Sanhedrin gave Jesus (Matthew 26.57-68). The division of the psalm presents three parts:

Verses 1-5-The Indictment of the Wicked Judges.

These verses present the truth of Romans 1-3, wherein Paul reminds us that none are righteous, all have fallen short, and we are born wicked. David describes these judges as either judging in place of God or acting as if they were gods (1). Verse one can also be translated “speaking righteousness in silence.” This would mean they know what to do but refuse to speak up for the truth. This reminds me of Phil Keaggy’s song “Little Ones.”

Verses 6-9-Imprecatory Prayer upon the Wicked Judges.

David’s prayer is quite graphic, presenting various metaphors for God’s judgment upon the ones who do evil. Judges are to represent God in terms of justice and righteousness. In this circumstance, and in the United States today, we find them far from the truth. The point that needs to be made in both periods of history is that the ones who perpetrate the evil are unaware that it is evil. They are doing what “seems right in their own eyes” and is accepted among those who are present. The book of Judges presents this truth. David prays for God to

break the teeth in their mouths;
tear out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD!
let them vanish like water that runs away;
like grass let them be trodden down and wither.
let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime;
like the untimely birth that never sees the sun.
sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns, whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away!

These are graphic, swift, and complete. He is asking God to annihilate their presence and memory from the face of the earth.

Verses 10-11-The Righteous Vindicated.

Whether in this life or the judgment to come (2 Corinthians 5.10), we will all receive righteous judgment (1 Corinthians 3.11-15). For those who know Christ as Savior, that judgment has been paid through His death. For those who do not know Christ as Savior, that judgment will be paid eternally by them. Who will pay your penalty?

How angry do you get over sin in the world? Your sin? Are you praying for God to bring justice to those in the world acting like God but working evil (remember, this will include you)?

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Little Ones by Phil Keaggy

Psalm 3

How often do you ask God to rid you of your enemies, those that oppose your walk with God? For whom do you do this? Is it for your comfort or for His glory? What is the focus of your prayer?

Psalm 3 (See our study on Psalm 4 and 2 Samuel 15)

These two psalms, three and four, are thought to have been written the same day. Psalm 3 was written in the morning (5) while Psalm 4 was written in the evening (8).

This psalm is written as a result of David’s sin with Bathsheba (see our study of 2 Samuel 12 read verse 11). As part of the consequences of David’s sin, Absalom is in rebellion (see our study on the Consequences of David’s Sin).

The psalm, like many others, can be outlined according to the pauses (Selah) presented.

Verses 1-2-Can you sense the anguish of David’s heart? He states that many have risen against him. He repeats “many” three times. When a word is repeated three times, there is a purpose and many times there is a fourth )See Daniel’s story of the fiery furnace(. Here the fourth “many” is obscured in the word for “increased,” which is the same word used of Absalom’s rebellion in 2 Samuel 15.12. The “many” are found in his son. Those around him are abashing him and reminding him of his sin. Thus the phrase that he is being taunted with “There is no help for you in God.”

Selah: Your turn. Who is it that taunts you and seeks to abash you? Your number one enemy is Satan. He is at the ready to accuse you and to remind you of your sin. He is there to inform you that God does not love you and will not accept you because of your sin. Do you listen to him? Remember that he is a liar. He tells a partial truth, which is a lie, in order for you to believe the lie. See our study of 1 Samuel 17.

Verses 3-4-Although those around him state that God has nothing to do with him, David knows that God is his only source of help. He is his protection. There is no other help, except in God.

Selah: When times are tough and situations are deceptive, to whom do you turn? Do you turn first to your friends, your family, your finances, or do you turn to Him who alone answers and helps us in our time of need? God strengthens us and empowers us to do His good work despite the circumstances.

Verses 5-8-David’s confidence is in God, no matter the odds against him. He can sleep the sleep of the righteous knowing that God is in control of all things. When David awakes, he begins his prayers again for God to rise up, as a warrior, to do battle for David through that day. David knew that his sin was a stain upon his nation. He asks God to bless the nation for God’s glory, not his.

Selah: How often do you ask God to rid you of your enemies, those that oppose your walk with God? For whom do you do this? Is it for your comfort or for His glory? What is the focus of your prayer?

Psalm 66

What is your story?

Psalm 66

This psalm reminds me of Matthew 5.13-16. It is the idea of telling the world about God without using words because of the godly lifestyle we live (1 Peter 3.1-6).

It is inviting us to come and see that the Lord is God. This psalm focuses on whom God is and what He has done for His people. The psalmist invites us, all people of the earth, to worship God with him:

Verses 1–4-Come and shout God’s glory. Pause, reflect (Selah), on what and who the Lord is.
Verses 5–7-Come and see God’s gracious work. Pause, reflect (Selah), on what the Lord has done. We are to reflect on the past to glorify Him and to grow in faith for what must be done today and in the future.
Verses 8–15-Come and be blessed and be a blessing. Pause, reflect (Selah), on what God can do for and through us.
Verses 16–20-Come and hear the testimony of God’s work in people’s lives. Has what God has done for you reached the ears of those around you? Is your life a walking testimony of who He is and of what He has done for you and through you? The beginning of this type of life, the life He created for you to live, is to come to Him in repentance, prayer, and study of His Word.

This is the story of the woman at the well when she met Jesus. After speaking with Him, she left to her town and declared “Come and See” (John 4.28-30, 39-42).

What is your story?

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Refiner’s Fire by Brian Doerksen

Psalm 60

The closing verses, 11-12, show where David sought his ultimate help. He turned to God to save him. The Hebrew word translated “help” is the word for salvation. He recognizes the deliverance only comes from God for man is incapable of saving. Where is your trust placed? Ask that question in terms of finances, family, friends, education, et al.

Psalm 60 (cf. Psalm 108, 2 Samuel 8, and 1 Chronicles 18)

As can be seen in the superscription, this psalm coincides with 2 Samuel 8 and 1 Chronicles 18. This is the second longest superscription in the psalter. Only Psalm 18 is longer. The Lily of the Covenant is also found in Psalm 80. It is a teaching psalm (a mitkam) and David wrote it. The setting is found in a battle and mentions three enemies David faced in the above passages. They were Aram-naharaim (highlands of two rivers or Mesopotamia [land between two rivers]), Aram-zobah (central Syria), and Edom in the Valley of Salt (near the southern portion of the Dead Sea). David was waging war against the Arameans in the north, the Edomites (and Moabites) invaded from the south, forcing David to send Joab to deal with the latter force. This psalm laments the reversal of David’s plans. The outline for the psalm is David’s lament (1–5), a certainty of David being heard (6–8), and a final plea for God to deliver Israel (9–12).

David calls for a pause (Selah) after verse four asking us to contemplate the demise of the army by the hand of God. His only response is to call out to that same God to deliver them and change what has occurred.

To better understand the places mentioned, look at the map below.

2 Samuel 9

David lived his life with all his ups and downs according to the purpose for which God created him (Acts 13.36). This is one of those instances where David served God’s purpose. We will see later that David falters a few times, but, in the end, he serves God’s purpose. How about you? Are you serving God’s purpose for your life in the area He has placed you (Acts 17.26)?

2 Samuel 9

The key to this whole passage is a promise David made to Jonathan before Saul and Jonathan died on Gilboa. David had promised him that David would always take care of the posterity of Jonathan. After he perished, there was only one alive and his name was Mephibosheth (see our study of 2 Samuel 4). His heritage is thus:

He is the grandson of King Saul and son of Jonathan who was crippled as his nurse fled and dropped him after the overthrow of Saul’s kingdom (2 Samuel 4.4-6)
After the overthrow of the kingdom, he was raised by Machir who was a powerful leader among the tribes on the eastern side of the Jordan River (transjordan). He also provided assistance to David in 2 Samuel 17.27-29 (2 Samuel 9.4-6)
He was sought out and honored by David because of David’s promise to Jonathan in 1 Samuel 20.14-17 (2 Samuel 9.1-13)
He was accused by Ziba of attempting to overthrow the kingdom of David when Absalom rebelled (2 Samuel 16.1-4)
He explains his side to David (2 Samuel 19.24-30)
He was spared by David (2 Samuel 21.7)
He was the father of Micha (2 Samuel 9.12)
He was called Merib-Baal (1 Chronicles 8.34)

David remembers the promise made to Jonathan after he had conquered and won many battles and became settled (2 Samuel 8.1). We can see this because Mephibosheth had a son (12) by this time. Since he was five when all this happened, some eighteen years could have passed, giving Mephibosheth enough time to marry and have a child.

What David did for Mephibosheth was not what the kings of ancient times did. They would slay all who were potential rivals (even in their own household). David not only spared Mephibosheth but gave him a home even though Mephibosheth could give nothing in return. Isn’t this much like what God does for us? He doesn’t slay us, but in His grace offers us who are crippled by our sin an eternal habitation fit for a king.

Psalm 132

During times of difficulty or praise, we need to record our prayers, desires, thoughts, and life so we might see God at work in our lives. When trials come, and they will, having a recorded testimony of God’s work in your life along with answered prayers will strengthen you and those around you. What is God writing in your life?

Psalm 132

This is another psalm of ascents and is the longest one. The authorship is unknown. It could have been Davidic (but verses 1, and 10-11 belie this) or Solomonic as a dedication of the newly built Temple. Whoever the author, this is a prayer given which asks God to remember His promises and is in connection with the Ark coming to Jerusalem and with the promise of the building of the Temple. This places the topic of the writing in time with our studies in 1 Chronicles and 2 Samuel (2 Samuel 7.8-16 [see study] and 1 Chronicles 17.11-14 [see our study]). Second Samuel is the Davidic Covenant and 1 Chronicles is the oath by God to build the Temple through David’s son, Solomon.

Verses 1-5-Remember David’s oath to build the Temple (see our study on 2 Samuel 5)
Verses 6-7-Remember David’s bringing the Ark to Jerusalem (see our study on 1 Chronicles 16). The writer recollects that David heard of the Ark in his youth as seen in the reference to Ephrathah, which is another name for David’s hometown of Bethlehem (Micah 5.2 and Genesis 48.7).
Verses 8-10-A prayer for God to remember the Ark and the King. The phrase “Your anointed” could refer both to David’s descendants and his ultimate descendant Jesus Christ, the Anointed One (Messiah).
Verses 11-18-A restating of the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7.8-16)

The prayers of verses 8-10 are answered in verses 16-18.

Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength (8).

This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it (14).

Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness (9a).

Her priests also I will clothe with salvation (16a).

And let Your godly ones sing for joy (9b).

And her godly ones will sing aloud for joy (16b).

For the sake of David Your servant, do not turn away the face of Your anointed (10).

There I will cause the horn of David to spring forth; I have prepared a lamp for Mine anointed. . . . But upon himself his crown shall shine (17, 18b).

Psalm 105

When you remember what God has done for and through you, do you trust Him with today and tomorrow? If you state He has done nothing, look again. Begin writing down so you may remember more clearly what the Lord has done.

Psalm 105

This and Psalm 78 are historical psalms that trace the history of Israel in order to teach a current generation about God. As you read through this psalm, attempt to find the eleven commands given to God’s people (“give thanks,” etc.). Historic psalms are good for us to read through as we see that God called His people to remember the good He has done. When we do this, we can trust Him to do good for us in the present and future.

1-6-Call to Praise
7-11-Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
12-22-Joseph
23-38-Exodus
39-41-Wilderness
42-45-Summary of all blessings mentioned and a command to praise God

This psalm was written when David brought the Ark into Jerusalem as an offering of praise to God (see our study on 1 Chronicles 16).

Whereas this psalm stands as a testimony of the good God brought to Israel, Psalm 106 presents the case of how God’s people betrayed Him (see our study).

Psalm 100

These commands are given in the context of praising God as we offer our thanks to Him for what He has done for us (the thank-offering–create a study of offerings for later). These are to be offered on a daily basis, not merely when we enter a church building.

Psalm 100

The psalm is quite like Psalm 23 in its pattern (see our study). This psalm, however, is a call for all God’s people to worship Him with a thank offering. The word translated as “praise” or “thanksgiving” in the superscription can be and has been used by Israel as “thank offering” (תֹודָה).

This chapter commands us to praise God. The word “praise” in verse four is different from the word in the superscription. It is תְהִלָּה. This noun is used as the title for the book of Psalms in Hebrew. The Psalms are called Tehillim or the Book of Praises. It is a worship book.

To outline this psalm, we have two commands. There is a command to serve (1-3) and a command to praise (4-5). God has given us the ability to serve in the areas He has gifted us in (Ephesians 4.1-16). When comparing this concept with modern psychology, a thought passes through my mind, which will be developed later. Maslow’s hierarchy states that self-actualization is the highest we can achieve. The four lower levels lead to this state. I find that the highest level is equal to service (Mark 10.43-45) and is something we must choose to do. The lower levels are provided by God. So, the only way we can live the life He created us to live is by choosing to serve as He did. What are your thoughts on this?

Each section of the psalm (service and praise) is divided into three separate sections giving commands and reasons to obey the commands. There are commands to make a joyful noise (1), serve the Lord (2), and to come before Him (3) in the first section. The reasons the psalmist gives for obeying these commands are that the one who commands is God, He is Creator, and we are His (3).

The next section commands us to enter God’s presence (His gates), be thankful for what He has done, and bless Him (4, cf. Matthew 5.16). The psalmist gives these reasons for obeying the commands: God is good, merciful, and faithful (5(. The phrase “and His truth” is from the Hebrew word where we get the word “amen.” So be it or it is truth, it will occur is what the word “amen” conveys.

The praise in verses 1-2 is not just standing and singing but standing and shouting so all in the assembly can hear your praises. We worship Him with our mouths but also with our lives in our service to others as we submit to Him (cf. Ephesians 2.8-10; Colossians 3.17, 23–24). How are you doing today?

Psalm 96

How does your life lead to a celebration of life for God? Even in our dark times, our life should celebrate what He does for us. Who has praised God because of what He has done in your life? He is active. What have you shown or told others about Him?

Psalm 96 (1 Chronicles 16.23-33; see our study)

This psalm does not tell us who wrote it but 1 Chronicles 16 informs us it is David. The account for this is the bringing of the Ark to Jerusalem This is called a royal psalm emphasizing God’s judgment. One commentary states there are “At least seventeen different ways of praising the Lord, given in the form of crisp commands, are found in Psalm 96” (Believer’s Bible Commentary, 1997). If you are able to list them, please comment.

Verses 4-6 describes the Lord as full of beauty and splendor. He is Creator and Sustainer. He is unlike the idols (אֱלִילִים), which by definition are “worthless” (the root of the Hebrew word for idol is worthless [אלל]).

David is calling us to sing a new song, to tell of God’s glory to those around us (1-3). David then celebrates who God is and how great is our God (4-6). David then calls us to great and festive worship of God with our whole life (7-9). David then celebrates who God is in that He will judge righteously (10-13). This psalm is like what Paul does in a few of his writings (Ephesians 3 with verses 20-21 for example). He writes of what God has done then goes into a hymnic praise of Him not by Israel alone but by the whole earth. All the peoples will praise Him.

For those of you who tried, here is another author’s attempt at finding the commands.

Three times in verses 1–2 we hear the summons, “sing to the LORD”; three times in verses 7–8, “ascribe to the LORD.” In each case further injunctions follow: “bless … tell … declare” in verses 2–3; “bring … come … worship … tremble” in verses 8–9 (Davidson, R. 1998).

Psalm 89

Psalm 89 (See Pastor David’s Sermon on Psalm 89.1)

This psalm struggles with the universal problem of God keeping His promises, much like Psalm 73 struggled with the prosperity of the wicked (see our study).

The psalmist, Ethan the Ezrahite, is referring to the Davidic Covenant which we will cover shortly when we cover 2 Samuel 7 (study to come later). He is complaining that God seems to have forgotten (39-47) His promises (1-38). He then prays that God will remember them (48-51) and ends with praise (52).

Even amidst all this doubt, the psalmist is reminded that God is a God who keeps His word (2 Corinthians 1.18–20 and Romans 15.8):

His commitment is incomparable because He is without equal (6)
He is overwhelmingly faithful (8, 24, 33)
The covenant with Him lasts forever (28–29, 36)
His commitment is unbreakable and unalterable (34)

This is how life always played out. We know the promises God has made, we do not see Him keeping them as we presume He should, we shake our fists at Him, then realize that He is God, He is Good, and He will keep His promises as we praise Him. After each section, the psalmist asks us to pause and think through the statements (Selah). When did you last consider the promises of God? If you have doubted whether He keeps them or not, why do you suppose you doubt Him? Have you offered prayers to Him for what He has promised to do, no matter how harsh?

Historical matters

This psalm might have been written when Jehoiachin (comp. verses 38-45 with 2 Chronicles 36.9 and 2 Kings 24.10-16) was king and is the second chapter, so to speak, of Psalm 78 (see our study) where God judged the northern kingdom. Here, it might be an indication of His judgment on the southern kingdom.
Rahab in verse ten does not refer to the ancestor of David but of Egypt (see our study in Psalm 87).

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